Soffit adapters



Oct. 14, 1969 c. A. STROZEWSKI 3, ,9

SOFFI'T ADAPTERS Filed May 12, 1967 fivl 'A rae [5 1 640 A? 57202503 0 United States Patent Ofiiice 3,471,982 Patented Oct. 14, 1969 3,471,982 SOFFIT ADAPTERS Conrad A. Strozewski, 5112 W. Belden Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60639 Filed May 12, 1967, Ser. No. 638,030 Int. Cl. E04b /52 US. Cl. 52-282 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A top adapter and a bottom adapter for the purpose of mounting a sofiit and engaging flange portions such as in T supports to enable a person to install a suspended grid ceiling within the flexibility of changing ceiling elevations.

This invention relates generally to soflit hangers. More specifically it relates to sofiit adapters.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a plurality of soflit adapters having the purpose to enable a person, or persons, to install a suspended grid ceiling with the flexibility of changing ceiling elevations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide soffit adapters which consist of a top adapter and a bottom adapter, the adapters being self-centering.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide sofiit adapters which will be pre-finished to conform to existing grid coloration.

Still a further object of the .present invention is to provide soffit adapters wherein a basic advantage is that a dropped ceiling may not be continuously as low as its lowest point, thereby conserving valuable head room.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide sofiit adapters which with their self-centering feature make it readily easy for the home craftsman to do his own installation without the necessity of professional help.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide soffit adapters which are simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efiicient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, shown partly in cross-section, and illustrating the soffit adapters in practical application;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation view thereof as viewed along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail of FIGURE 2 taken in the same plane,

FIGURE 4 is an end elevation view of a main T which forms a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a cross T;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of a wall angle;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view of a top soflit adapter;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view of a bottom sofiit adapter;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a top adapter clip.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the reference numeral 10 represents an assembly showing the application of good sofiit adapters wherein there is a top soffit adapter 11 and a bottom soflit adapter 12.

As in most clearly shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing, a main T 13 includes a vertical portion 14 having a horizontal portion 15 in the form of a T configuration, one side of the horizontal portion 15 providing a support means for an upper elevation 16. The other side of the portion 15 is receivable within a notch 17 in the tops of the adapter 11, the sofiit adapter having a horizontal side 18 forming one side of the notch 17 and a vertical side 19 which bears against tone side 20 of a sofiit 21. The top adapter may be formed into a configuration in which the notch 17 is defined between spaced horizontal members. The near end of the horizontal member is adjacent to the upper edge of the vertical member, and the far end is adjacent an upwardly extending member which defines the spacing of the notch. The top edge of the upwardly extending member is adjacent the far end of a second horizontal member, and the near end of the second horizontal member terminates short of the near end of said first horizontal member. A top adapter clip 22 has a tongue 23 receivable also in the notch 17 of the top soffit adapter, the clip being downwardly bent to form a side 24 which bears against the other side 25 of the sofiit 21. A screw or pop rivet 26 may be provided for fastening the main T, top soffit adapter and top adapter clip together.

The lower end of the sofiit is supported upon a bottom soffit adapter 12 which is formed from fiat stock bent up to form a vertical'wall or side 27 which is bent up at one end to form a horizontal side 28 and at its other end is bent up to form a horizontal side 29, a

notch 30 being formed between the horizontal sides 28 and 29. The bottom adapter may be formed into a configuration having a vertical side member with a notch defined by a pair of horizontal members with their near ends adjoining the vertical member and their far ends being offset relative to each other whereby the far end of the horizontal member which is closer to an edge of the vertical member is further removed from the vertical member than is the far end of the other horizontal member which is remote from that same edge of the vertical member. The bottom adapter may be formed from elongated flat stock in which the vertical member or portion is formed from a mid portion thereof. The bottom horizontal member will be a wall formed from one end portion of said elongated member, which is adjacent said center portion. The near edge of the wall will be adjacent the bottom edge of said vertical wall. The top horizontal member will be a wall formed from an opposite end portion of said elongated member with the near end adjacent the vertical wall and remote from the bottom edge thereof. One side of a horizontal portion 15 of another main T 13a is fitted into the notch 30 of the bottom soffit adapter and the other side of the horizontal portion 15 of the main T 13a provides a means for supporting a lower elevation 31, as is shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawing.

As is shown in FIGURE 1, the installation may include a series of spaced apart cross Ts 32 which are located between the tiles or sofiits. Additionally, wall angles 33 comprise another part for producing a finished installation.

Thus there has been provided a construction wherein a dropped ceiling need not be continuously as low as its lowest point, and thus conserving valuable head room.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it is understood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. Top and bottom soffit adapters mounted on the edges of a soflit member and engaging flange supports in a dropped ceiling assembly having elevation mem bers, the combination including a vertical member on each adapter positioned along a side of the with member, a first horizontal member on each of said adapters positioned along opposite edges of said soifit member, a

second horizontal member spaced from said first horizontal member to define a notch therebetween receiving a flange support of said dropped ceiling assembly in each of said sofiit adapters, the near ends of said horizontal members being adjacent said vertical member and the far ends being otfset relative to each other in the bottom adapter, and the near end of one horizontal member in the top sofiit adapter being adjacent the vertical wall, the far end thereof being joined to the far end of the other horizontal member by an upwardly extending member, and the near end of said other horizontal member terminating short of said vertical member.

2. In sofiit adapters which include the features of claim 1 above and further including a locking clip for said top soifit adapter, said clip being a deformable member having one end received and interlocked within said top soffit notch and having another end which is deformable downwardly to assume a permanent bend which is urged against a side of the sofiit member in supporting relationship.

3. In soflit adapters which include the features of claim 2 above and further including a fastener to be mounted through the horizontal members and the interlock end of the clip disposed in the notch between said horizontal members.

4. In sofiit adapters which include the features of claim 1 above wherein said top adapter is an elongated member formed of bent flat stock.

5. In soifit adapters which include the features of claim 4 above wherein said bottom adapter is an elongater member formed of bent fiat stock.

6. In soffit adapters which include the features of claim 4 above, and which further include a soflit member having a top edge in supporting contact with said top adapter and a bottom edge in supporting contact with said bottom adapter,

support members joining said top and bottom adapters,

and

said adapters joining said soifit member to elevation members of the dropped ceiling assembly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,672,914 6/1928 Schmitt 52-282 2,230,247 2/1941 Henning 52-732 X 2,230,248 2/ 1941 Henning 52474 2,330,763 9/1943 Townsend 287-18936 2,338,191 1/1944 Lumm 287189.36 2,802,359 8/1957 Hollister 52-238 2,976,971 3/1961 Lunderg 52--483 3,332,180 7/1967 Price .....2 52-60 X 3,334,465 8/1967 Hoffman 52713 FOREIGN PATENTS 985,910 3/ 1965 Great Britain.

JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 52-468, 495 

